Alexej von Jawlensky

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Alexej von Jawlensky (Russian, 1864 - 1941)

Jawlensky was born in Russia, and started out with a military career. He began his art studies comparatively late, in his mid-twenties, and in 1896 left the army and went to Munich where he enrolled at art school. Another Russian artist, Wassily Kandinsky, was a fellow student, and the two became great friends. In 1905 Jawlensky spent some time in France, where he was influenced by the work of Gauguin, Van Gogh and the Fauves. He showed several paintings at the famous Salon d'Automne exhibition of 1905, in which the Fauves were given their name.

Fauvism

A group of painters in France in the early 20th century, including Henri Matisse and André Derain, who used bold, vivid colours in their work. The name is derived from a derogatory remark from a critic who saw them as akin to wild beasts.

Salon d'Automne

An annual exhibition, established in Paris in 1903 by artists including Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse, Albert Marquet and Georges Rouault as an alternative to the official Salon.